Corks: many creative ideas to recycle them in useful and original ways
Corks are one of those easily available objects that are frequently thrown away, without considering giving them a second life. After any type of celebration, party, dinner, lunch, aperitif or just a simple drink with company, we often find ourselves with corks in the house that we would certainly throw away immediately. Sometimes, we keep them as a souvenir of a special moment and store them in a jar. But, in fact, by creatively recycling corks, you can create wonders. Whether it's objects to beautify your home, clever uses of them to improve everyday life at home, or to create spectacular gifts, the possibilities are endless when it comes to cork recycling.
Create pots for plants, by gluing the corks together with a simple vinyl glue - this can be a wonderful idea for decorating, both indoors and outdoors, and following the popular rustic decor style.
And why not screw them to drawers and doors to create some very original knobs?
By carving out the central part of a cork, at its base, a useful clip can be made to close open bags of pasta, biscuits, flour or any other food items in the pantry. You never thought about that, did you?
By gluing corks to each other using hot glue, you can even create a bag - to which you can later add handles and other decorationg details.
Another great idea is to create a wreath with corks to hang on the front door. During the Christmas season, by adding themed details such as mistletoe, bows and other trinkets, you can get a create a wonderful decoration.
What do you think abut making some colored coasters? Try painting some using acrylic paints and glue them to other unpainted ones, creating a pattern and shape you like. You can make sets of these, choosing whether to make them as coasters with the same or multiple colors. Let your creativity flow!
The same thing can be done to create trivets (hot plate stands), placemats or table centerpieces. Indulge yourself using multiple shapes and colors - you will have a lot of fun doing so.
To make a very special cutting board to show off during your aperitifs, clad one side of a regular board with corks. The effect will be spectacular.
With corks and a bit of hot glue, you can create some wonderful vases.
And you can make mats with them, to be placed, perhaps, at the entrance to the home to put your shoes on. Get gluing - it will be child's play.
A last, very clever, suggestion, can be to cut diskettes from the cork which are only a few millimeters thick. These can then be glued to the underneath of the feet of the chairs, acting like the rubber pads we sometimes us to prevent friction with the floor (and to prevent scratches and other damage).
